Chapter 315 : Taking Chances

*Lauren*

As I walked up the hill and looked toward the spot my dad told me to meet them for lunch, I spotted him, bustling around with a red and white picnic blanket. He set it up just outside the treeline, in the grass not too far away from the dock. His hair was everywhere from the wind and he looked slightly out of breath, but happy.

He’d been going on and on about a surprise he had for Shelby, the twins, and me. I wasn’t expecting a picnic, that’s for sure. Dad was usually more over the top than that, but I’d be happy for the family time.

The sight of him with everything set up felt like something out of a country living magazine. There was an old wicker picnic basket sat in the center of the blanket, filled to the brim with all of our favorite snacks—juicy strawberries, sandwiches made with homemade bread from the locals, and, to my delight, a large chunk of Shelby’s famous chocolate fudge cake.